Grab for reels or the like



Oct. 23, 1956 R. J. BROOKS 2,768,019

GRAB FOR REELS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. s, 1952 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IA LENTOR R03 ERT J HN 3x 0 KS AaEN s Oct. 23,- 1956 R. J. BROOKS 2,763,019

' GRAB FOR REELS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

[N VENTO'R R03 ERT JOHN .BRoo K A LrENTS United States Patent '0 GRABFOR REELS OR THE LIKE Robert John Brooks, Hitchin, England, assignor toGeo. W. King Limited, Hitchin, England, a British company ApplicationNovember 5, 1952, Serial No. 318,873

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 7, 1951 5 Claims.(Cl. 29495) This invention relates to mechanical grab or conplingdevices, which are adapted to be connected to a hoist or haulage rope orcable for the purpose of engagement with, or attachment to, an articlewhich is to be lifted or otherwise transported.

It is the chief object of the invention to provide such a device, whichis adapted particularly to be employed in the lifting and transportationof large rolls of paper or other articles having a bore or passagewayextending therethrough.

According to the invention, the device comprises a carrier member atleast a portion of which is adapted to be introduced into a bore orpassage in the article to be transported, one or more movable gripper orengaging elements associated with that portion of said member adapted tobe introduced into such bore or passage, and means operable as a resultof a pull exerted by a hoist or haulage rope or cable, to effectmovement of said gripper or engaging element or elements into engagementwith the inner surface of the bore or passage in the article to betransported. Preferably, the means include a rod or spindle supportedwithin the carrier member for axial movement relatively thereto, alinkage mechanism to which the haulage rope or cable is attached andwhich is coupled to said rod or spindle and a cam or equivalent deviceassociated with the latter, the arrangement being such that when a pullis exerted on the rope or cable, the linkage mechanism will be operatedto effect axial movement of the rod or spindle, thereby to cause the camor other device, to co-operate with the gripper or engaging element orelements to urge the same outwardly and into its or their operative orengaging position. Preferably also, locking means will be incorporatedto prevent axial movement of the rod or spindle when it is required toWithdraw the device from an article which has been transported orhandled. V

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, the same will be hereinafter more fully describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodimentby way of example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevational view of a grab or couplingdevice.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig ure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view on a larger scale illustrating alocking mechanism employed and the device and one method of operatingthe same. Figures 4 and 5 show details of the construction.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the device thereinillustrated comprises an upper plate or platform 10, which is adapted tosupport centrally and at the underside thereof, a cylindrical or othersuitably shaped sleeve like element 11, the latter being so shaped anddimensioned that it is adapted to be inserted into the axial bore orpassage such as is normally present, for example, in a large roll ofpaper. Mounted on the upper surface of the plate or platform is aplurality ofstruts or the like 12, serving to support a rubbing block orcollar 13 having a central aperture therein, through which a hoist ropeor cable 14 is adapted to pass. The rubbing block or collar 13 islocated centrally with respect to the plate or platform 10 but ismaintained spaced above the same, the centre of aperture therein beingaligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical casing element 11.Preferably, the framework formed by the struts or the like 12 andsupporting the rubbing block or collar 13 is enclosed or encased withina hood or casing of sheet metal, the construction being such that atruncated conical housing will be present at the upper side of the plateor platform 10.

Disposed within the sleeve like element 11 and concentrically withrespect thereto, is an inner tubular or sleeve like member 15 which issupported within said element 11 by a member 29 which is afiixed to thesleeve 11 the latter being in turn affixed to the plate 10. The sleevelike member 15 is adapted to constitute a guide for an operating rod orspindle 16. Mounted at the upper side of the plate or platform 10 is alazy-tong linkage mechanism designated generally by 17 to which thehoist rope or cable 14 introduced through the rubbing block or collar 13is connected, such mechanism being coupled to the rod or spindle 16, sothat when a pull is exerted on the rope or cable 14, said rod or spindie16 will be moved upwardly relatively to the tubular or sleeve likeelement 15. Pivotally mounted on brackets 18 located at the lower end ofthe tubular or sleeve like element 15 is a plurality of arms 19, each ofwhich is adapted to support an arcuate shoe member 20, the outer surfaceof which is covered with a layer of friction grippingmateri-al,indicated at 21. For example, three pivoted arms may be provided whichare spaced equidistantly around the periphery of the tubular or sleevelike element 15, each of said arms having a shoe member 20 pivotallyconnected to the lower or free end thereof. The construction is suchthat when the device is inoperative, the arcuate surfaces of the shoemembers will lie on or define a circle, the diameter of which is equalto or less than the diameter of the cylindrical sleeve like element 11.

Mounted on or formed integrally with the rod or spindle 16, is a cammember 22, which is adapted, on axial movement of said rod or spindle,resultant upon a pull exerted on the rope or cable 14, to co-operateWith the arms 19 carrying the shoe members 20, thereby to force thelatter members outwardly into positions, wherein the outer surfacesthereof, which carry the friction gripping material, will engage theinner surface of the axial bore or passage in the article, e. g. theroll of paper to which the device is applied.

In order to allow insertion of the device into the axial bore or passagein an article requiring transportation and also to allow for withdrawalof the device from an article after transportation thereof, it isnecessary to provide locking means to prevent axial movement of the rodor spindle 16 and consequent actuation of the gripper shoes 20, when apull is exerted on the rope or cable 14, to bring the device into aposition for insertion into an article to be transported or to effectremoval of the device from an article after transportation. Such lockingmeans may conveniently comprise a pair of substantially L-shaped latchmembers 23, which are disposed at opposite sides of the rod or spindle16 at or ad- 11. Mounted adjacent the upper end of and rigidly securedto the rod or spindle 16 at opposite sides of the latter, is a pair ofblock or catch members 25, each of which is adapted to project through,a slot .25 in the tubular or sleeve like member 15. The arrangement issuch that when the rod or spindle 1 6 is in its inoperative position, i.e. when there is no pull on the rope or cable '14 and the cam 22 isinoperative in relation to the shoe members 20, the horizontal limbs ofthe Lshaped latch members 23 will engage over the upper ends of theblocks or catch members 25, or will engage in recesses on said members,thereby positively to lock the rod or spindle 16 against axialdisplacement, said rod or spindle being then locked in its lowermostposition wherein the cam will be inoperative in relation to the shoemembers. The operation of the latch members may conveniently becontrolled through the medium of a solenoid 26, the movable member ofthe solenoid being coupled to a Y-shaped or forked element 27, the outeror free end of the limbs of which are pivotally connected one to each ofsaid latch members 23. The arrangement indicated is such that onenergisation of the solenoid 26, an angular movement will be imparted tothe latch members 23 as shown by the dotted lines, to move the same outof engagement with the blocks or catch members 25 on the rod or spindle16, thereby to free the latter, said latch members 23 returning bygravity or through the medium of spring means to their operativeposition on de-energisation of said solenoid 26. If desired, instead ofemploying a solenoid to effect operation of the latch members 23, thelatter may be operated through the medium of any convenient manuallyoperated mechanism.

Preferably, the lower end of the rod or spindle 16 which projects belowthe lower end of the sleeve like element 11 is formed or provided with aguide block or nose 28 of inverted conical shape, which will serve tofacilitate entry or introduction of the device intothe bore or passagein the article to be handled.

It will be appreciated that the device is not limited in its applicationto articles having circular bores or passageways therein, since byemploying an appropriate number of shoe members such as 20 havingappropriately shaped engaging surfaces they may be caused frictionallyto engage the inner surface of a'bore or passageway of anycross-sectional form.

Finally, it is to be noted that articles to be transported may be liftedeither from horizontal or vertical positions.

I claim:

l. A mechanical grab or coupling device comprising a carrier memberincluding an upper plate, rigid outer guide means depending from saidplate and capable of insertion into an axial bore or passage in anarticle to be transported and inner guide means fixedly mounted withinand concentrically with respect to said outer guide means; a rodslidable axially with respect to said inner guide means, cam meansassociated with said rod, a plurality of gripper elements of arcuateform pivotally mounted on said inner guide means and a lazytong linkagesupported on the upper plate of said carrier member, such linkage beingcoupled to said rod and also adapted to have a hoist rope attachedthereto and the arrangement being such that on insertion of the rigidouter guide means into the axial bore or passage in an article to betransported and on a subsequent pull being imparted to the hoist ropeattached to said lazytong linkage, the rod will be caused to moveaxially so that the cam means associated therewith will be effective toproject the gripper elements into an operative position wherein theywill frictionally engage the interior of said bore so that the articlewill be lifted and transported on further pulling of said hoist rope andinterengaging looking means connected to said rod and carrier member andoperable at will to prevent axial movement of said rod and thereby toprevent actuation of the gripper elements when a pull is exerted on thelazytong linkage.

2. A mechanical grab or coupling device comprising a carrier memberincluding an upper plate, rigid outer guide means depending from saidplate and capable of insertion into an axial bore or passage in anarticle to be transported and inner guide means fixedly mounted withinand concentrically with respect to said outer guide means; a rodslidable axially with respect to said inner guide means, cam meansassociated with said rod, a plurality of gripper elements of arcuateform pivotally mounted on said inner guide means, a lazytong linkagesupported on the upper plate of said carrier member, such linkage beingcoupled to said rod and also adapted to have a hoist rope attachedthereto, catch means associated with said rod and at least one pivotedlatch member associated with said carrier member and adapted onoperation to engage said catch means thereby to prevent axial movementof said rod whereby said gripper elements are maintained in inoperativeposition, the arrangement being such that with the outer guide meansinserted into the axial bore or passage in an article to be transportedand with the latch member in its inoperative position a pull exerted bya hoist rope on the lazytong linkage will result in axial movement ofthe rod such as to cause the cam means to project the gripper elementsinto an operative position wherein they will frictionally engage theinterior of said bore or passage so that the article will be lifted oncontinued pulling of said hoist rope.

3. A mechanical grab or coupling device as in claim 2 and includingelectro-magnetic means whereby actuation of the latch member may beeffected.

4. A mechanical grab or coupling device comprising a carrier memberincluding an upper plate, an outer sleeve member depending from saidplate and capable of insertion into an axial bore or passage in anarticle to be transported and an inner sleeve member fixedly mountedwithin and concentrically with respect to said outer sleeve member, saidinner sleeve member having at least one slot at its upper part; a rodslidable axially with respect to said inner sleeve member, catch meansfixedly mounted on said rod at the upper part thereof, cam meansassociated with said rod, a plurality of gripper elements of arcuateform pivotally mounted on said inner sleeve member, a lazytong linkagesupported on the upper plate of said carrier member, such linkage beingcoupled to said rod and also adapted to have a hoist rope attachedthereto, pivoted latch means associated with said carrier member andmeans adapted on operation to cause said latch means to be projectedthrough the slot in the inner sleeve member and into engagement with thecatch means on said rod thereby to prevent axial movement of the latterwhen required whereby said gripper elements are maintained ininoperative position, the arrangement being such that with the outersleeve member inserted into the axial bore or passage in an article tobe transported and with the latch means inoperative a pull exerted by ahoist rope on the lazytong linkage will result in axial movement of therod such as to cause the cam means to project the gripper elements intoan operative position wherein they will frictionally engage the interiorof said bore or passage so that the article will be lifted on continuedpulling of said hoist rope.

5. A mechanical grab or coupling device as in claim 4, and including aplurality of struts fixedly mounted on the upper plate of the carriermember and a rubbing collar supported by said struts, said collarserving as a guide for the hoist rope or cable to be attached to thelazytong linkage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

